The sun broke through the overcast skies Monday and blazed through the windows at Sailfish Point Country Club in Stuart as former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice approached the lectern.

That was fitting, as Rice — in town to help raise money for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County — talked of the wonders of democracy, “the most remarkable experiment” in human history.

But as she went on, the sun again went behind the clouds — and that, too, was fitting. For despite the committed efforts of individual citizens and groups like the Boys & Girls clubs, Rice said, democracy is a work in progress.

And right now, she said, it needs some shoring up.

In a wide-ranging speech, Rice, a keynote speaker for the clubs’ fourth annual Distinguished Speaker’s Luncheon, touched on her upbringing in segregated Birmingham, Alabama; her meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin; her belief in the value of education; and her interest in football, instilled by her football-coach father.

She also dispelled, sort of, questions about whether she will run for president.

Last week, media reports suggested that Rice had been approached by key Republicans, urging her to jump into the race. Asked Monday whether she planned to run for president, Rice didn’t provide a firm “no,” but did say she has never aspired to run for office.

“It has to be in your DNA to run for president,” Rice said.

Rice asked if she would run for president; "Kind of not in my DNA to run for office but I was fortunate to serve the country" #TCElections

Inevitably, she also was asked about Donald Trump. More on that in a moment; but, here, let’s say her answers suggested she thinks groups like the Boys & Girls Club can help ameliorate the conditions that led to Trump’s rise.

Rice talked of how club employees and volunteers can act as surrogate parents for kids in need, praising their accomplishments — but also prodding them toward excellence.

Confidence borne of hard work and perseverance helped her succeed, she said; life isn’t about participation trophies. Sometime a kid needs someone to say, “Why did you get a C? You’re smarter than that.”

Rice to students: If you love math, read more, if you love reading do more math; challenge yourself #TCElections

That kind of guidance can foster success. It can create stronger individuals and, ultimately, better citizens.

The country, Rice suggested, is going to need them.

Repeatedly — both during the luncheon and earlier in the day, as she answered questions from teens at the Boys & Girls Club’s Hobe Sound clubhouse — Rice returned to the theme of economic inequity. Directly and indirectly, she was asked about Trump. She responded by saying she thinks a Chief Executive should have previous experience in elected office, and that much of the presidential campaign rhetoric is “embarrassing” for America.

But Rice also expressed sympathy for the type of voters Trump might attract — the economically dispossessed, the people who feel as if they did everything they were supposed to do. They got a job, bought a house, raised kids and now maybe they’re out of work, maybe the value of the home has dropped, maybe the kids have moved back in with mom and dad, and the future looks dim for all involved.

If democracy is to thrive, she said, or even survive, the historic promise of America — that class is no barrier, that “it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, only where you’re going” — must be restored.

That means kids should go to college, Rice said, for if you have an education, you may not be able to control your circumstances, but you can control your reaction to them.

Rice: I think everyone who wants to go to college should be able to but anything that's just free, people don't always value it #TCElections

And working toward an economy that works for everyone; it’s not enough, she said, to proclaim yourself in favor of free trade, then shrug at job losses, at people who feel their best days may be behind them.

That, Rice suggested, is how some people come to the conclusion that America’s best days are behind it. That, in turn, can result in promises to “Make America great again.”

I have to admit, I was taken aback just a little by how passionate Rice seemed on this topic.

Maybe it’s because she’s an educator, currently the Denning Professor in Global Business and the Economy at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. But there seemed to be more to it than this. Rice seemed to be making a moral case, suggesting the discontent that Trump has exploited and Bernie Sanders has sought to address is real, and that we — all of us — have a duty to do something about it.

Or else that “most remarkable experiment” is in trouble.

What, specifically, should be done? Rice still would be here talking it she went too far down that rabbit hole. But I think she is right, that groups like the Boys & Girls Club are part of the solution. If democracy is a work in progress, they’re laying some of the bricks. And for that, Rice thanked them.

About Gil Smart

Gil Smart is a columnist for Treasure Coast Newspapers and a member of the Editorial Board. His columns reflect his opinion. Readers may reach him at gil.smart@tcpalm.com, by phone at 772-223-4741 or via Twitter at @TCPalmGilSmart.